Editorial
The question of why law matters may sound simple, yet it cuts to the very foundation of why societies function in the first place. Law is not merely a set of technical rules but a collective promise—an agreement that chaos will be replaced by order, arbitrariness by certainty, and vulnerability by safeguards. In this way, law represents trust institutionalised, providing fairness, predictability, and stability where none might otherwise exist.
However, law ceases to matter when treated as mere formality. If drafting and enforcement become rituals without spirit, the very essence of law collapses. Written codes alone cannot inspire confidence; they must be upheld with sincerity and good faith. Law without integrity degenerates into hollow text, incapable of restraining power or protecting citizens.
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The philosophical roots of law remind us that fundamental rights such as liberty, dignity, and equality are not state gifts but natural entitlements. Constitutions do not invent rights; they codify them, translating eternal principles into enforceable rules. In this sense, the constitution becomes a bridge between natural law and positive law, providing citizens with enforceable guarantees.
For Pakistan, Article 4 of the Constitution ensures that every citizen must be treated in accordance with the law—a right so fundamental it cannot be suspended even in emergencies. Attempts to undermine such principles are unconstitutional and, under Article 6, amount to treason. The rule of law, therefore, is not optional; it is the very lifeline of constitutional governance.
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Yet no legal framework can succeed without sincerity from those entrusted to apply it. Rule of law thrives only when individuals, regardless of power or position, are subject to the same standards. Without such commitment, societies fall into the rule of men—where personal whims replace justice, and authority turns arbitrary.
Why does law matter, then? Because it secures justice, protects rights, and restrains power. But it matters only when upheld with integrity. Otherwise, even the most eloquent constitutions become lifeless words.
